The Book of Beasts

by E. Nesbit

Book Overview

An enduring story of the magic to be found in books. Young Lionel is very surprised to be made King, but he's delighted to discover the world full of books in the Palace library. When Lionel opens one called THE BOOK OF BEASTS, he's in for an even greater surprise-out of the pages fly a butterfly and a blue Bird of Paradise! But when he opens the book again and releases a terrible Red Dragon, the trouble really begins. Can Lionel find another beast...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076361579X
• ISBN13: 9780763615796
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 9.6" x 11.8"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

A delicious lighthearted adventure

A boy accidentally releases a terrible red dragon from the magical Book of Beasts. His first attempt to make it right is clever--maybe clever enough, in some lesser storybook--but no, it doesn't work: the boy must face the dragon himself. The way Edith Nesbit gets her hero into and out of this predicament is the defining quality of the book. There is peril, yes, and bravery, and adventure--but none of the grim, visceral struggle or the emotional sound and fury of, say, Saint George and the Dragon. Instead the turns in the plot are surprising, lighthearted, silly even--yet clever, with a certain satisfying fairy-tale logic. This is an abridged, picture-book version of the original (in The Book of Dragons), which I have not read. The illustrations (like the prose) are airy, comic, and marvelous. Perhaps because it wasn't originally intended for a picture-book audience, the story will be a vocabulary builder for young children. Grown-ups will find much to savor here.

Colorful Tale of Dragons and Hippogriffs and More!

This large, colorful picture book is a faithful retelling of "The Book of Beasts," one of many stories originally found in "The Book of Dragons," written by E. Nesbit over one hundred years ago. In this story, a young boy named Lionel is, to his great surprise, crowned king after the death of his great-great-great-great-great grandfather. His grandfather was said by some to be a magician and sure enough, he finds in the royal library a book called "The Book of Beasts." He lets out of it some wonderful creatures, such as a butterfly "all red, and brown, and yellow, and blue," but then he ends up setting a dragon loose upon the kingdom. It's an upsetting start to his days as king, but eventually young Lionel vows to set things right. The story is abridged (but done very well) and fully illustrated in ink, oil pastels and oils by Inga Moore. The illustrations are beautiful and fanciful, many covering entire pages and others woven into the text. Fantasy fans of all ages will enjoy this story and may be inspired to take a look at "The Book of Dragons," if they haven't already.

An instant favorite!

My daughter (6) and I loved this story. Imaginative, beautiful illustrations. Told skillfully with charming style, wit and a refreshing sense of resoursefulness. This one is a keeper! =)

Very clever and, yes, enchanting!

This is one of those special children's books that has captivated me, as well my son. The text is filled with funny remarks for parental appreciation. And it appeals to a child's imagination, portraying the child as probelm solver as well as trouble maker. The story resolves in a surprisingly clever way, dispelling all the trouble caused by the dragon. This is a witty enchanting fantasy!

100 YEARS LATER AND IT STILL ENCHANTS

This reissue of the classic tale by E. Nesbit originally published in 1900 is more than welcome, it's a joy. Abridged and illustrated by Inga Moore it will fascinate and entertain another generation of youngsters. The Book Of Beasts revolves around Lionel, a young boy who learns that he is to be king. He is informed of this startling news by two elderly robed gentlemen wearing gold coronets "with velvet sticking up out of the middle like cream in jam tarts." After being crowned he is delighted to find a wondrous library in the palace. Lionel is drawn to a large brown book that lay on a table; it was titled "The Book Of Beasts." When he opened it he saw a painting of a beautiful butterfly. Most amazing of all, the butterfly flew right off the page! Even though the chancellor warned him not to look at the book, Lionel crept back to the library during the night and looked at the book once more, and he looked again the next day when, horrors, he came upon a page marked "Dragon," and the most fearsome beast was released. Now, it has fallen to King Lionel to find another beast in the magic book, another beast strong and brave enough to defeat the dragon so that the people will be saved. One hundred years later The Book Of Beasts still enchants.